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April 16, 2014

Storm couldn't ruin great Snowroamers season

As published in The Erin AdvocateHeavy snow made it an excellent
winter for the Hillsburgh Snowroamers this year, even if the heavy ice made for
some intense weeks of work.“The season was fantastic –
normally we’re happy to get 6-8 weeks,” said Snowroamers President Gord
Wiesner.Instead of finishing before the
March Break, riders could use the local trail system until the end of March.Two years ago there was so little
snow, there was no season in the Erin area.Things got off to a rough start this
year when the Christmas ice storm brought thousands of branches crashing down,
making trails impassible.Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) did
not have staff available to clear the Elora Cataract Trailway, so the
Snowroamers got out their chainsaws, even arranging emergency training so more
people could help with the cleanup.For several weeks the cutters and
safety spotters were out working, with risks from falling ice and bent trees.
Volunteers put in more than 550 hours and got the main line open by January 19.“It is a testament that they are a
well-organized, tenacious, hard-working group, ready to overcome any obstacle
to enjoy the sport they love,” said Wiesner.Snowmobile riders actually pay CVC
for the right to use the trail, and the grooming work that they do makes the
trail easily usable for hikers, dog walkers and skiers.It can cost up to $260 to buy an
Ontario-wide season’s permit, depending on the age of your sled. Local clubs
get revenue from the permits, and their mandate is to reinvest that back into
maintenance and upgrading of trails.The Hillsburgh club owns various
equipment, including a $130,000 grooming machine. Over the years they have put
thousands of dollars into projects like bridges, culverts and signage.In the fall they start marking
trails on private land, then do preliminary grooming before opening, normally
after Christmas. After the season, stakes and signs are removed.The club works hard to maintain
good relations with landowners, though Wiesner said it can be difficult getting
all riders to stick to the trails. Their network extends from Brisbane up to
Dufferin County Road 109, and west towards Belwood.The club gets involved in the
community, putting on an event for the Special Friends Club that provides members
with rides and a campfire with refreshments.The local traffic generated by
snowmobile trails also provides a lift for the economy, with money being spent
on restaurant food, gas, oil and parts.Wiesner said the province-wide
impact is about $1 billion per year, though the number of riders has declined
substantially in the last 10-15 years. It is not just because of warmer
winters, but the cost of insurance for associations and individual owners has
been increasing.